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 Replies: 10 / Views: 2,310 |
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New Member
United States
20 Posts |
I've been doing a ton of reading as I want to do my best to ensure that as I go deeper into this journey, I'm making good decisions. I'm trying to treat this as a true investment, even though some of the attraction is the simple beauty of the coins themselves. One item that seems to keep coming up is the difference between the 2 main grading services ( PCGS and NGC ). I came across the coinweek website ( http://www.coinweek.com/american-silver-eagles/ ) and one thing I was reading is there appeared to be an issue with coins that were graded by PCGS developing "milk spots" ( not sure if that is still true ), and that recently PCGS SEEMS to be grading coins at PR70 at a faster rate then the equivalent number of PF70's being graded from NGC. Once I delve into buying graded proofs, obviously, I want to be assured ( as best as it can be ), I'm getting the high quality I expect. Any feedback or comments would be greatly appreciated... Thanks in advance, Dan *** Moved by Staff to a more appropriate forum. *** |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4901 Posts |
Both companies are fine companies. I lean towards NGC for no real reason but sometimes I can get the same grade coin a bit cheaper in that slab. Whichever company you choose it would probably be a good idea to be consistent with that company choice. Both are top tier TPG's Re: milk spots..they are the scourge of both companies and mostly are ASE related. I submitted a bunch of 2006 20th Annie sets to NGC way back when and experienced first hand the agony when a couple of my reverse proof and proof 70's got the disease years later...bad. Re: PCGS handing out a higher number of 70's...since there is really no way to know how many coins were submitted to each company this stat is not really reliable. A dealer might have sent in 1000 coins and specified that only the 70's (or 70's and 69's) to be slabbed....all the other will not show on the POP report as submitted... Edited by Foxwoods Man
09/03/2017 09:10 am
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New Member
 United States
20 Posts |
Foxwoods Man - Thanks for the feedback. There are currently a couple of reasons I'm interested.
#1 - I've recently received a 1993-P and a 1994-P Proof, not graded ( started with the key dates, the 1986-S is on it's way ) and when I compare the 2 coins with a magnifying glass, I'm able to see differences in, what I would classify as "quality in details". I realize this could simply be the "luck of the draw".
Although slight, as a couple of examples, bottom right of the shield, just above the arrows, on the 1994 the detailed lines in the exposed feathers are noticeably more defined then on the 1993. Also, when comparing the feathers on the back of the eagles neck, there are similar differences.
My thought then went to, ok, so what is a "perfect" coin suppose to look like ?
I figured if I bought a PR70 or PF70, I would have something to compare against, hence the question, to PCGS or not to PCGS ( lol ), ie, NGC...
Also, what I seem to be noticing as well is that a coin, graded at PR70 ( PCGS ) .vs. a coin graded at PF70 ( NGC ) quite often has different pricing, where USUALLY the NGC graded coin is a little more expensive.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
4901 Posts |
The timing of the purchase has a lot to do with pricing. I like to bottom feed for bargains. I first establish a going price and then try to low ball bid. It usually doesn't work the first few attempts but it becomes a game and the winner get a coin at a decent price.
Using the NGC 93-P proof for an example (recent sales):
Raw goes for $50-70
PF 69 from $45-85
Bump it one more grade to PF-70 and the range is $789-985 (PCGS hit $1180)
LOT's of wiggle room in all the above
Edit: I forgot to add....don't think you can put a 69 and 70 next to each other and see the difference. 99% of the time they look the same.
Edited by Foxwoods Man
09/03/2017 10:16 am
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New Member
United States
20 Posts |
Ok, so why am I seeing a marked difference in the areas mentioned. As I said, I know it could be just the "luck of the draw", or simply a difference in the strike based on the year in question...
So how would I tell whether the difference I'm seeing is in fact one of a lower quality coin, or simply a difference because of the different years used in the comparison ?
Dan
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Pillar of the Community
United States
7375 Posts |
FWIW, NGC seems to grade more technical, and PCGS might tend to market grade.
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote: I came across the coinweek website ( http://www.coinweek.com/american-silver-eagles/ ) and one thing I was reading is there appeared to be an issue with coins that were graded by PCGS developing "milk spots" ( not sure if that is still true ), That isn't a PCGS issue, that is a US mint issue and happened to coins in all of the services holders. That actually isn't just an issue for the US mint either sadly. Quote:
Also, what I seem to be noticing as well is that a coin, graded at PR70 ( PCGS ) .vs. a coin graded at PF70 ( NGC ) quite often has different pricing, where USUALLY the NGC graded coin is a little more expensive. For actual sales it's almost always the other way around. There may be a seller or two attempting to give that appearance, but over the last year PCGS has gained a lot of the market share for the modern market. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1795 Posts |
Actually I have certified coins from both services and they are the top 2 rated. As far as picking one over the other that is a matter of personal taste. I myself like NGC. My reasons for liking NGC better is I like what they offer better. That is why I have a NGC registry. They used to let you register PGCS coins but haven't for a while but no problem cause I usually purchased NGC slabs. Plus PCGS seems to be difficult with they rules and changes that they make. I've heard stories about being money hungry and giving higher grades for the amount of coins submitted. That made me question their priorities in grading. I just think that NGC seems to be more collector friendly myself. Also I've noticed on ebay that NGC coins are priced a bit higher for the same grades than PCGS. |
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Bedrock of the Community
13014 Posts |
Quote:
I've heard stories about being money hungry and giving higher grades for the amount of coins submitted. That's just rumors started by people unhappy with their grades. Large submitters get the same special treatment at NGC as they do at PCGS, eg low fees/faster turnaround times/special label options. They don't get better grades |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1261 Posts |
I collect classic circulated US coins and I've been seeing a trend lately where PCGS has been tough on grades. They seem to be extra conservative with grades one or even two levels lower than they should be. Maybe a coincidence but something that I've noticed from the freshly graded circulated coins. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5825 Posts |
I give NGC preference over PCGS for one reason: I'm an ANA member and therefore I don't have to "join" the NGC in order to submit coins. |
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Replies: 10 / Views: 2,310 |
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Posted 09/03/2017 09:52 am
